NHL Best Bets and Betting Picks: December 5th
Well the Monday bets fell flat on their face and it was a frustrating night all around, just needed a few minor things to break our way and it would've been a great night of betting. Alas close but no cigar and a loser is a loser… Back on the horse we go though for an 8 game slate in the NHL world and yet again more chances to make some dough. Tonight I am starting a “Dog of the Day” bonus pick to go the rest of the season, they will all be half unit plays on underdogs to take a shot on. Not every article will have a dog of the day but you will see it often enough. Otherwise we have 3 Money Line bets for tonight's action to dive into! If you like the rationale then tail the picks, if you don't feel free to fade as sometimes the best bets are the ones not taken!
- Season Record: 38-39-2
- Bankroll: -2.47 units
Follow me on twitter @jwaggs10
**all bets are one unit unless specifically mentioned.
NHL Best Bets for December 5
Los Angeles Kings at Columbus Blue Jackets
The road warriors are back in action tonight as the Kings head to middle Ohio to take on the Blue Jackets! The Kings are an amazing 9-0-0 on the road this season and given the matchup tonight I think they're going to continue their winning ways. The Blue Jackets are one of the worst Corsi graded teams this season, 26th to be exact and they allow 3.35 goals per game. They are also just 6-8 on home ice this season and score 2.93 goals per game. The Kings as you might imagine have numbers that greatly dwarf Columbus as they score 4.67 goals per game on the road. I would normally take the Puck Line in a game like this but Pheomix Copley is starting over Cam Talbot tonight and he's just average so give me the Kings to win in regulation and decent odds.
Pick: Los Angeles Kings 60-Min Money Line (-145 on BetMGM)
Minnesota Wild at Calgary Flames
Sometimes turning around your season and be due to just firing your head coach and for the Wild it appears that may have done the trick. The sample sizes are small of course but Minnesota is riding a 3 game win streak in which they have outscored opponents 13-3 and have gotten back to their roots of defense first hockey. Filip Gustavsson will get the start in goal for the Wild and while his 2023 overall has been one to forget he is coming on now too with just 2 goals allowed over the past 51 shots. The Flames on the home side should be competitive as they are 6-6 straight up at home this season but the momentum is building for Minnesota and they're tied to the tracks tonight.
Pick: Minnesota Wild Money Line (-115 on Caesars)
Detroit Red Wings at Buffalo Sabres
The Red Wings had a November to forget but it seems they are rounding back into form since getting healthy and namely getting Dylan Larkin back in the lineup. They have now won 5 of their last 6 games and will look to continue their form tonight on the road against a Sabres team that is as inconsistent as they come in the NHL. The big kicker in this game will be the Red Wings offense that scores 3.74 goals per game (3rd in NHL) against Eric Comrie who will start in net for Buffalo. He has been awful this season going 1-4-0 with a 3.99 GAA and .864 SV%. If he maintains form the Red Wings could score 4+ goals tonight and with Alex Lyon in net with his 1.26 GAA that's enough to wrap things up easy enough.
Pick: Detroit Red Wings Money Line (-125 on DraftKings)
BONUS PICK & NHL DOG OF THE DAY
San Jose Sharks Money Line (+250 on Caesars) (Half Unit Play)
Player News
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that Zach Eflin (lat) is likely to return and start Sunday against the Angels
It was assumed that Eflin would be back this weekend, but now we have a concrete date. The 31-year-old may not be at full strength after throwing fewer than 60 pitches in his rehab start, but the Orioles feel confident enough to have the right-hander back on the bump for the series finale against the Angels.
Riley Greene is not in the lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the Rockies on Thursday.
Greene will get a break and likely return to the lineup for the second game of the twin-billing. Zach McKinstry will get the start in left field while Greene rests.
Panthers released TE Jordan Matthews.
Matthews converted to tight end a few years ago and hasn’t made much noise at the position. The change has, however, likely kept him in the league for a few more seasons. He appeared in four games with the Panthers last year but didn’t record any stats on offense. The Panthers also released or waived WR Dax Milne, C Andrew Raym, and TE Colin Granger.
Yu Darvish (elbow) is facing live hitters on Thursday.
Darvish has been throwing bullpen sessions and traveled to the team’s complex in Arizona to face live hitters on Thursday. It will be his first time facing live batters since a spring training appearance on March 13th. He will likely need a few sessions like this before the Padres can map out a rehab appearance timeline for him.
Adael Amador is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Rockies on Thursday.
Amador has now started three of the last four games at second base for the Rockies. He’s gone just 7-for-43 this season with 15 strikeouts in 16 games. He’s just 22 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to adjust to the MLB level, but he doesn’t need to be on redraft radars right now.
Jackson Holliday is playing second base and batting second for the Orioles on Thursday against the Twins.
With Cedric Mullins sitting out on Thursday, Gunnar Henderson will bat lead off, and Holliday will jump up from sixth in the order to second. Holliday is riding a hot streak right now, and the Orioles are taking advantage. This is likely just a one-game sample with no Mullins or Adley Rutschman in the lineup, but Rutschman has been struggling, so perhaps it could become a more permanent spot in the lineup for Holliday moving forward.